Lubricating device



y 2 1937. H. E. N. PRUVO'I; 2,688,386

LUBRICATING DEVI-CE Original Fil ed July 14, 1933 .F'IGJ. v

/ N VGA/TOR fmmyva 4197:.

Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES LUBRICATING DEVICE Henri EloiNorbert Pruvot, Sotteville-Les-Rouen, France, assignor to C. C.Wakefield & Company Limited, London, England Original application July14, 1933, Serial No. 680,482. Divided and this application March 24,1934, Serial No. 717,260.

'4 Claims.

The present invention has for its object a device for the lubricationunder pressure of the movable parts of machines and is a division of my'copending application Ser. No. 680,482 filed July 14, 1933.

The device is used in case the bearing to be lubricated is completelyenclosed, but remains mechanically accessible at one of its ends. It is"particularly the case of a connecting rod mounted object improvementsin devices for the lubrication of a member movable relatively to a fixedsource of oil supply, and particularly of a crank pin by means of .areturn or countercrank.

These improvements are mainly characterized by the fact that the rotaryjoint of the return or countercrank is movably mounted relatively to thefixed source of supply.

The rotary joint of the return or countercrank can be connected to afixed support by a link. The rotary joint of the return or countercrankcan be connected to a fixed support by springs.

The rotary joint is constituted by the combination: of a central shaftperforated with channels the number of which is a function'of the numberof connecting rods, of co-axial rings for constituting, at one of theends of the shaft, chambers connected to the oil inlet and to eachcorresponding channel, the rings being co-axial with the shaft.

. --Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of .the

unit with partial section showing a constructional form of a deviceaccording to the invention adapted for the lubricationof a journal of alocomotive wheel by using a countercrank.

Figure 2 is an axial longitudinal section of a. device according to theinvention adapted for ensuring the lubrication of two distinctconnecting rods pivoted to the same journal and operating side by side.

Figures 3 and 4 are front and side views respectively on a reduced scaleshowing the joint illustrated in the preceding figure in order to showthe location of the drilled holes.

Figure 5 shows the device illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 in a mountedposition according to a constructional form different from Figure l.

The apparatus described hereinafter is adapted for lubricating underpressure, a connecting rod mounted on the journal of a locomotive wheel.In the case of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the apparatus is adapted forensuring the lubrication of a driv- In France July 18,

ing rod and a coupling rod mounted side by side on the same journal of alocomotive wheel.

In the example of Fig. 1, the underframe of the locomotives is indicatedat I, this underframe supporting the fixed source of supply not shown.

The journal 2 to be lubricated is fixed on the wheel 3 and has mountedthereon two connecting rods 4 and 5. The journal 2 is formed with areturn or countercrank 6 provided in turn with a journal I coaxial withthe wheel 3 and on which journal 1 is mounted a member 8 receiving theoil under pressure from the fixed source of supply through a piping 9.The journal i and the member 8 constitute a rotary joint in which thejournal 1 rotates in the member .8. 7

According to an essential feature of the invention, the member 8 ismovably mounted on the underframe I for permitting, as shown in Figurel, the transverse displacements of the wheel 3 relatively to theunderframe l without affecting frame I through the medium of springs i4and supports l5. In this example, the detailed construction of which ismore particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the rotary joint isspecially adapted for ensuring by two independent circuits thelubrication of two connecting rods such as 4 and 5 journalled side byside on the crank pin 2 of the wheel 3. In this case; the oil underpressure is led to the member 8 through two flexible tubes 90. and 9bwhich are themselves suppliedthrough the medium of joints I6 and I1(Fig. 5) and through two pipings 9c and 9d connected to the fixed supplyof oil.

In the example of Fig. 2, the counter or return crank is indicated at 6.This counter or return crank is rigid with a member l8 keyed on the,journal 1 through the medium of a conical bearing l9 and a nut 20. Themember 8 is mounted on the journal 1 through the medium of a ballbearing 2|.

The member I8 has two ducts 22 and 23 for pipes such as 24 (Fig. 1)which permit the passage of the oil to the journal 2 and opposite twoconnecting rods 4 and 5.

On the member 8 are mounted two tubes 9e and 9f, the tube 91 being onlyshown in Figure 2 while these two tubes appear in Figure 3. These tubes9e and 9 are connected to pipes 90 and 912 for the supply of oil (Fig.5). A member 26 is mounted at the end of the member 8 through the mediumof bolts 25.

The journal or shaft 1 is provided with two longitudinal channels 2'!and 28 which communicate, as shown, with the two ducts or pipes 22 and23. special circular segments 29 and 39 made of a flexible materialunaffected by the action of the oil (vulcanized fiber, cellophane etc.)or constituted by a pressed metal member (made of bronze, pure copper)of small thickness. The segment 29 is cylindrical and is secured to theshaft 7 by a nut 34 and a washer 32. The annular segment 30 is securedto the shaft 1 by screws such as 32a. The channel 28 opens in thechamber laterally bounded by the segment BI and the hole 21 opens in thechamber bounded by the in' ner and outer walls of the segment 30.

The ball bearing 2i includes inner and outer race rings, the inner ofwhich is mounted on the shaft 1 by the nut 3 The bearing supports thebody 8 with which it is rendered rigid by the nut 35. A specialscrewthreaded ring 36 made of vulcanized fiber or other flexiblematerial is engaged with the outer nut and constitutes a locking device.

The body 3 is closed by the member 26 forming a cover. The cover 26 isprovided on its inner face with two concentric recesses. One of theserecesses is of cylindrical shape, being located at the center of cover26 and receiving the segment 29 which is fitted therein with slightfriction.

Finally, the cover 26 is perforated at fill nd 38 so that the recesseswhich receive the segments are each in communication with the tubes 9eand 9]. (The Figures 3 and 4 show how these perforations appear inelevation.)

The operation of the entire device isas follows:

The oil under pressure, supplied by the mechanical lubricator installedon the machine, is admitted at -9c and 91 as indicated above. The oilpasses through the channels 31 and 38 and enters the chambers receivingthe segments 29 and 30 and then passes through the channels 28 and 2'!and is admitted in the tubes 23 and 22.

The member 8 being mounted as shown in Figure 2, the rotation of theaxle of the locomotive and consequently of the member 18 secured to thecounter-crank 6 drives in rotation only. the shaft 1 and the segments itcarries, this rotation taking place about the ball bearing 2i The rotaryjoint is therefore provided between the segments 29 and 30 and themember 26. The

At its other end, the shaft 7 has two pressure of the oil ensures thefluid-tightness of the segments, the walls thereof bearing against thoseof the member 26. A hole 40 perforated in the partition separating thechambers provided for the segments 29 and 30 puts in communication withthe atmosphere e annular space between these segments and thereby avoidsany back pressure.

What I claim is:-

1. In a device for the lubrication of a member movable relatively to afixed source of oil supply and particularly of a crank pin by means of acounter-crank having a rotary joint and means supporting said rotaryjoint for bodily movement relatively to the fixed source of oil supply.

2. In a device for the lubrication of a member movable relatively to afixed source of oil supply and particularly of a crank pin by means of acounter-crank having a rotary joint and. means supporting said rotaryjoint for bodily movement relatively to the fixed source of ,oil supply,the said means including a connecting rod operatively connected abouttwo parallel axes on the one hand to the support of the fixed source andto the joint on the other hand. 7 F

3. In a device for the lubrication of a member movable relatively to afixed source of oil supply and particularly of a crank pin by: means ofa counter-crank having a rotary joint, meanssupporting said rotary jointfor bodily movement relatively to the fixed source of oil supply, thesaid means including springs, and flexible piping for effectingtheadmission of the lubricant to the rotary joint.

4. In a device for the lubrication of a member movable relative to afixed source of oil supply and particularly a crank pin by means of acounter-crank having a rotary joint, means for supporting said rotaryjoint for bodily movement relative to the fixed source of oil supply,the said rotary joint including a central shaft rigid with thecounter-crank and provided with a plurality of longitudinal channels,leach of I said channels communicating at one end with the member to belubricated, coaxial rings on the other end of the shaft for formingchambers which are in communication with the adjacent ends of thechannels in the said shaft, a cover for partly housing the rings andalso provided with channels opening into the chambers bounded by therings and which are in communication with the fixed source of oilsupply, a member to which the cover is fastened, and a ball bearing forjournalling the said latter member to the said central shaft.

HENRI ELOI NORBERT PRUVO'I

